Hose suspension



July 16, 1935. w, BROWN 2,007,999

HOSE SUSPENSION Filed. Feb. 27, 1934 INVENTOR.

Walla 06 E. Brown BY 1M MAM ATTORNEY.

Patented July 16, 1935 STATES HOSE SUSPENSION V Wallace ,E; Brown, Fairfield, cemi; assigno r to duPont deNmours & Company, Wil

n'iington; DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application February: 2'7, 1934, Serial No. 713,105

, p p i'cl'aimsp (c1.1s"z" 9o) This invention relates to a suspension device for tubing, and more particularly to a suspension device for tubing asused to conduct air ior ventilationpurposes-in mines. i. B" *wLarge' quantities of fabricated tubing (from non-woven fibrous materiaL- wovenfabrics treated or untreated) are used to conductair for ventilating purposes in coal and metal mines. The present method of suspending such tubing in mines consists in arranging suspension wires alongthe walls of the tunnels of the mine and supporting the tubes by hooks attached to these wires. The suspending device consists of a metal eyelet or grommet fastened into the longitudinal 15. seam of the tube fabric and a. bent wire hook which is slipped into the grommet and clinched. The U. S. Patent 1,261,008 issued to N. B. Braly describes such a device and arrangement for suspending the ventilating tube. Such tubing for 20 conveying air is used not only in mines but any place where it is desired to have a collapsible and flexible device for transporting air or other gases.

This invention has as an object the provision 25 of an improved type of construction for suspending a flexible base type tubing. A further object is the provision of a type of suspending device having improved resistance against tearing from the flexible base used in constructing the tube. 30 A still further object is the provision of a suspending device which will have increased resistance against rusting and corrosion under conditions which prevail particularly in mines.

These objects are accomplished by the follow- 35 ing invention in which a new type of hook stamped from sheet steel and plated with a relatively non-corroding and rust resistant metal is provided for suspending the flexible fabric tubing from the suspension wire. This hook is as- 40 sembled as an integral part of the tubing during the manufacture of the latter and'remains as such in actual service.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tubing supported on the cable; Figure 2 is an 45 end elevation along lines IIII; Figure 3 is a part side elevation of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a part side elevation of Figure 2 to show the detailed attachment of theback plate; Figure 5 is a modification of Figure 3. In the drawing I indicates the hook, 2 is the cable which suspends the entiretubing l, 3 represents the stitches and 4 the folded seam; 5 represents the back plate which has a plurality of holes through which the corresponding number of lips 6 are inserted and clinched.

i The invention will be readily understood'by referenceto'thedrawing which-shows the asseniblecl' tubing with the hook forfs'uspending the tubingas an integral part of same. In making the seam of the tubing to which the hook isfastened, the longitudinalaedges of the tubing material are turned over, asshown inthedrawing: at and secured in positionbystitching shown as 3. The hook is then fastened to this seam by piercing the seam with the lips 6, placing the back plate tightly against the seam so that the lips 6 pass through the holes in the back plate, and then bending inwardly the lips 63 so that they lie flat against the protecting plate 5 on-the opposite side of the flange section of the tubing from the hook part proper. This assemblage makes a strong attaclnnent of the suspension device to the hose or tubing. In some cases the lips may be substituted by rivets, but the former has been found more economical and satisfactory in construction.

This invention is used in connection with tubing of the nature described for conveying air or other gases used for ventilating or similar purposes. It finds particular use in metal and coal 5 mines and also in other underground excavations as tunnels, etc. Its use. is generally applicable in connection with flexible tubing for conveying air.

The method in use at present for suspending flexible hose or tubing is chiefly that described in the Braly patent previously noted. This method has been in use for a great many years for suspending the ventilating tubing in mines and other' places but has not been universally satisfactory,

the chief complaints from mine operators are that the hooks disengage from the eyelets or grommets due to concussions following the release of blasting charges and that miners neglect to clinch the hooks in the grommets which consequently disen- 40 gage when air is first passed thru the tubing. Another disadvantage is that the grommets tear away from the tubing causing rents with subsequent loss of air. Bothof these tend to reduce the efficiency of the ventilating system, the former due to sags which cause increased resistance to air flow andthe latter due to actual air losses. The present invention eliminates these difliculties and yields a more foolproof method of venti1at ing tubing suspension, since the suspension means of the present invention is assembled as an integral part of the tubing and the only operation the workman performs when the tubing is erected is that of hooking the tubing to the suspension cable. In the method of. suspension used at present three operations are necessary: (1) Inserting the hook into the grommet or eyelet; (2) clinching the hook; and (3) attaching the hook to the suspension wire. The advantages in ease of suspension of the method of the invention over the method now in use are therefore readily apparent.

A further advantage of the new suspension device is that a stronger attachment of the hook to the tubing results than is obtained in the present type of hook. By actual test the suspension dc.- vice of the invention withstood a pull of 250 pounds without any serious effect on the tubing. In contrast, when a pull of 110 pounds was ap-. plied to the device now in use the grommet ripped from the cloth and caused a serious rent in the tubing. Such a result in tubing in actual service would render it unfit for further service. It will thus be seen that the new device with respect to the strength of attachment of the hook to the tubing is over 100% better than the device now commonly used. Further the new device is sturdier, more resistant to corrosion and will give a service life of 4 to 5 times that of the present device;

It is apparent that many widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and, therefore, it is not intended to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a tube and a suspension device having two parts, a part of said tube being securely fixed by means of a plurality of clinched ears between the said two parts of the suspension device.

2. The combination of a tube having [an external projection and a. suspension device having .two parts adapted to hold the said projection securely between the parts by means of a plurality of clinched ears.

3. A suspension device having a hook portion and a base portion integral therewith said base portion being provided with a plurality of projections, and a back plate provided with holes through which the said projections may register and be clinched.

4. The combination of a gas impermeable fabric tube having an externally protruding seam and a suspension device comprising a hook having a base portion integral therewith, and a back plate said seam being fixed between the base portion and back plate by means of a plurality of projecting ears extending through the seam and back plate and clinched over the latter.

WALLACE E. BROWN. 

